>> EVERY NOW AND THEN I WOULD
STAY PREGNANT LONG ENOUGH
TO JUST GET A CHECK
ON THE 1st AND THE 15th
AND THEN GO ABORT
THE CHILD.
SO NOW I WAS JUST GOING
TO MAKE IT MY LIFE PATTERN.
I LIVED THERE THREE AND A HALF
YEARS WATCHING MY LIFE
SPIRAL INTO A LITTLE DARK HOLE
AND THAT'S WHERE GOD FOUND ME.
>> KNOWING FIRSTHAND THE TRAP
OF THE WELFARE SYSTEM,
STAR PARKER HAS
DEDICATED HER LIFE
TO LOVING THE POOR
AND FIGHTING POVERTY.
AS A POLITICAL ACTIVIST
SHE HELPS UNDERGIRD
AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITIES
TO DO THE SAME.
NEXT
ON LIFE TODAY!
♪
James: WE WELCOME YOU
TO LIFE TODAY.
I'M JAMES ROBISON.
BETTY AND ARE I THRILLED
TO HAVE A REAL STAR.
I MEAN SHE IS A STAR
AND HER NAME IS STAR.
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED
SHE IS ABOUT A MORNING STAR.
SHE IS SO LIKE JESUS
IN SO MANY WAYS THAT
IT'S QUITE AMAZING.
STAR PARKER IS I THINK
A TRANSFORMED PERSON THAT
REALLY CAME FROM KIND OF
A BACKGROUND LIKE I HAD.
WE'RE DIFFERENT COLORS BUT
WE HAD A LOT OF SIMILARITIES.
WOULD YOU WELCOME STAR PARKER
TO LIFE TODAY?
SHE'S BEEN HERE
SEVERAL TIMES WITH US
AND WE'RE CRAZY ABOUT HER.
STAR, I'M THE PRODUCT OF
A FORCED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
ON A 40-YEAR OLD WOMAN,
CONCEIVED ME, THE DOCTOR
WOULDN'T ABORT ME, I'M BORN,
LIVED IN POVERTY FOR 10 YEARS,
ABOUT AS BAD AS IT GETS,
LIVED ON A DUMP, DIRTY RIVER.
I JUST WAS POOR.
BUT NOBODY WAS CRUEL ENOUGH
OR FOOLISH ENOUGH TO TELL ME
THAT SOMEBODY OWED ME AND
NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF ME.
THROUGH ALL THE MISERY,
I DID SEE POSSIBILITIES.
I FELT LIKE WORK
WAS NOT A BAD WORD.
I GUESS I'D CONSIDERED
THE BIRDS, THEY GET UP EARLY
AND THEY GO TO WORK
BUT THEY DON'T WORRY.
I WENT TO WORK AT 12.
IT WASN'T BAD FOR ME.
I WASN'T TOO YOUNG.
THANK GOD THERE WASN'T
SOME SMART POLITICIAN
TELLING ME I WAS TOO YOUNG
TO WORK AND THAT YOU'RE
A CRIMINAL IF YOU LET
A 12-YEAR OLD WORK.
SHUT UP -- FOREVER AS FAR
AS I'M CONCERNED.
JUST SHUT UP!
FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO GO
SPOUT OFF WHERE NOBODY
CAN HEAR YOU.
I WENT TO WORK.
I'M 74, I'VE NEVER STOPPED.
AND I'M TELLING YOU,
I'VE BEEN BLESSED AND
I'VE BEEN A BLESSING
TO BLESS OTHERS -- AND I LOVE
PEOPLE AND I HELP PEOPLE.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE A REAL GOOD
START YOURSELF, DID YOU?
Star: WELL, ACTUALLY I LOST
TRACK WHEN I GOT LOST BECAUSE
I DID BELIEVE THOSE LIES,
I DID HEAR THOSE LIES.
I HEARD THAT MY PROBLEMS
WERE SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT.
I HEARD THAT I WAS POOR
BECAUSE THE WEALTHY
WERE WEALTHY.
I HEARD THAT BECAUSE I WAS
BLACK I SHOULDN'T MAINSTREAM.
LISTENING TO ALL THOSE LIES
I GOT VERY, VERY LOST.
I STARTED LIVING IN DAILY
ACTIVITIES OF ANYTHING
THAT SOMEONE ASKED ME TO DO;
SO EVERYTHING FROM
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
TO DRUG ACTIVITY
TO SEXUAL ACTIVITY,
IN AND OUT OF ABORTION CLINIC
AFTER CLINIC.
IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER
THE FOURTH TIME I WENT
INTO ONE OF THOSE SO CALLED
SAFE LEGAL CARE CLINICS
THAT I JUST HAD A GUT INSTINCT
WAY DOWN DEEP INSIDE
THAT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING
WRONG WITH KILLING
YOUR OFFSPRING.
I DIDN'T CHANGE ANY
OF MY SEXUAL PATTERNS
SO I WAS PREGNANT AGAIN
WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME AND THAT'S WHEN
I WENT ON WELFARE TO STAY.
I'D BEEN IN AND OUT OF
THE SYSTEM ALREADY.
IT'S HOW I PAID FOR
ALL THOSE ABORTIONS --
THE GOVERNMENT DID.
BUT ALSO, EVERY NOW AND THEN
I WOULD STAY PREGNANT
LONG ENOUGH TO JUST GET
A CHECK AND ON THE 1st
AND THE 15th AND THEN
GO ABORT THE CHILD.
SO NOW I WAS JUST GOING
TO MAKE IT MY LIFE PATTERN.
I LIVED THERE THREE AND
A HALF YEARS WATCHING
MY LIFE SPIRAL INTO A LITTLE
DARK HOLE AND THAT'S WHERE
GOD FOUND ME THROUGH
SOME CHRISTIAN PEOPLE THAT
THEY TOLD ME MY LIFESTYLE
WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
I SUPPOSE IT WAS.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT GOD.
BUT THEY DID KEEP CALLING ME
TO GO TO CHURCH WITH THEM.
AND WHEN I WENT TO CHURCH,
I HEARD THE GOSPEL; I HEARD
THAT GOD WAS IN CHRIST,
THAT HE WAS RECONCILING
THE WORLD TO HIMSELF,
THAT HE WASN'T COUNTING
MY SIN AGAINST ME,
THAT HE LOVED ME
AND THAT HE DIED FOR ME.
AND THAT HE HAD A LIFE FOR ME.
SO I SAID, "WOW!
THAT SOUNDS PRETTY COOL."
SO I CHANGED.
James: HOW OLD WERE YOU THEN?
Star: I WAS WELL INTO
MY 20s PROBABLY.
James: HE CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Star: YEAH! JUST STARTED
MAKING NEW DECISIONS,
STARTED GOING TO CHURCH,
STARTED READING THE BIBLE
AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WORKED.
IT REALLY WAS GOOD NEWS.
James: YOU THINK THAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE HAVE BOUGHT THE LIE
THAT YOU WERE LIVING?
Star: YEAH! NOT ONLY HAVE
THEY BOUGHT IT, THE CHALLENGE
THAT WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH
TODAY IS THE LIES
ARE NOW POLITICIZED.
SO NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE BUYING
THE LIES BUT IT'S TAKEN
A HOLD OF THEIR LIFE
EVEN WHEN THEY ARE CHRISTIANS.
LOOKING INTO MY COMMUNITY,
I WORK IN POLICY REFORM TODAY,
I RUN A POLICY INSTITUTE
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND THE PEOPLE HAVE BOUGHT
THIS IDEA OF COLLECTIVISM
AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS IF
YOU EVEN SPEAK TRUTH,
YOU'RE CALLED OUT IN YOUR
NAME AND YOU MAKE A LOT
OF ENEMIES AND END UP
WITH DEATH THREATS.
SO THAT'S A LOT
OF MY LIFE TODAY.
James: HOW COME YOU'RE HAPPY
ABOUT ALL THAT?
Star: WHY AM I HAPPY ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE THE TRUTH
IS ON OUR SIDE.
I STILL WORK IN
THE GRASSROOTS: I STILL GO
INTO THE HOUSING PROJECTS.
I SPEAK FOR PROBABLY
20 PREGNANCY CARE CENTERS
A YEAR.
SO THOSE THAT ARE ROLLING UP
THEIR SLEEVES AND GETTING
THE WORK DONE IN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE IN NEED,
I JUST KNOW THAT GOD
IS A GOOD GOD.
I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT
THE DEATH THREATS THOUGH.
James: BUT YOU'RE HAPPY ABOUT
THE LIFE YOU'RE LIVING.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT BUYING
INTO THE WELFARE SYSTEM
IS IN MANY WAYS DEATH
AND BONDAGE TO THE PEOPLE?
AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT
IT PERPETUATES AN
INAPPROPRIATE POWER BASE
THAT'S ACTUALLY IN FACT
MANIPULATING AND USING
THE PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN
THEIR POSITION TO THE DEMISE
AND DAMAGE OF THE VERY PEOPLE
THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP
OR SAY THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP?
Star: I ABSOLUTELY KNOW
IT'S TRUE.
ONE THING WE NEED TO KNOW
IS LESS THAN $0.20 ON A DOLLAR
OUT OF THE $900 BILLION
THAT WE SPEND EVERY YEAR IN
THESE ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS,
LESS THAN $0.20 ON THE DOLLAR
ACTUALLY REACHES THE HOME
THAT WE SAY WE WANT TO HELP.
ALL THE REST IS BUREAUCRACY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT WE'VE PUT
$24 TRILLION INTO THIS WAR
IN POVERTY AND THE POVERTY
RATE HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL.
IT'S STILL 25%
OF THE POPULATION.
James: AND THE POOR
ARE GETTING WORSE.
Star: WELL, BECAUSE
WE COLLAPSED FAMILY.
THE RULES OF UNCLE SAM ARE:
DON'T WORK, DON'T SAVE,
DON'T GET MARRIED.
WE'LL KIND OF KEEP YOU
ENSLAVED TO THIS
POVERTY PLANTATION.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I KNOW?
THE SCRIPTURE SAID,
"RENDER TO CAESAR WHAT IS
CAESAR'S AND TO GOD
WHAT'S GOD."
CHARITY DOESN'T BELONG IN
A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL PROGRAM.
CHARITY BELONGS TO THE CHURCH.
IT BELONGS TO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY; PEOPLE THAT
CAN LOOK YOU IN YOUR EYE
AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT
YOUR LIFE AND
TRY TO HELP YOU RECOVER.
BECAUSE THE POVERTY
MIGHT NOT BE ECONOMIC,
IT MIGHT BE SPIRITUAL.
IT COULD BE JUST EMOTIONAL.
SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK
AT THE UNIQUENESS OF THE LORD.
WHEN JESUS TALKED ABOUT
THE POOR, HE SAID PREACH
THE GOSPEL TO THEM.
HOW DID WE GO SET UP
THIS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM THAT
DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW YOU
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
TO THE POOR?
James: AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THEY WILL FIRE YOU
OR FINE YOU IF YOU DO.
Star: WHEN I WROTE
MY CASEWORKER AND SAID
I WAS LEAVING BECAUSE I HAD
GONE TO CHURCH
AND HEARD THIS STUFF.
SHE CALLED ME AND CURSED ME
AND TOLD ME I'D BE BACK.
WHEN JESUS WAS CONFRONTED
WITH POVERTY, WHEN HE SAW
ALL THOSE HOMELESS PEOPLE
OUT THERE, A LOT OF THEM
WERE HUNGRY, HE DIDN'T SAY,
"SEND THEM TO THE ROMANS
AND HAVE THEM SET UP
A FOOD STAMP PROGRAM."
HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES,
BRING THEM TO ME.
THEN THEY'RE LIKE,
"WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED
TO DO WITH THEM?"
HE SAID, "YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO FEED THEM."
AND THEN HE MULTIPLIED.
AND I JUST KNOW NOW SO MUCH
OF THE SCRIPTURE THAT GOD HAS
ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF PEOPLE
BY TELLING THE CHURCH,
IF THEY BRING THEIR TITHES
AND THEIR OFFERINGS INTO
THE CHURCH THEY HAVE MEAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT
ARE REALLY HELPING
PEOPLE RECOVER.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE
THE FINANCES TO DO IT MORE,
TO BE ABLE TO LOOK PEOPLE
IN THE EYE AND TALK TO THEM
ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
James: REALLY, BECAUSE
SO MUCH OF IT HAS GONE
TO THE GOVERNMENT IN
EXCESSIVE TAXATION AND
USELESS MEETINGS,
INEFFECTIVE TAXATION.
WE'VE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN.
Star: THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT
IS ON INDEPENDENCE AVENUE.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE MOCKERY
OF THE GOVERNMENT.
HOW DO YOU PUT A WELFARE
OFFICE ON INDEPENDENCE AVENUE?
[Laughter]
THEY'RE NOT INDEPENDENT
AT ALL.
IT'S JUST LIKE MAD.
BUT THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW.
THE NEW PRESIDENT IS SERIOUS
ABOUT MAKING CHANGES
TO FIX THE INNER CITIES.
HE SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN,
BLACKS, HE TOLD THEM
WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO LOSE?
THEY DIDN'T BUY IT.
SO ABOUT 8%, A COUPLE MILLION
VOTED FOR HIM.
BUT THEN UNLIKE OTHER
POLITICIANS HE SAID IT AGAIN
IN HIS INAUGURAL.
SO PEOPLE STARTED THINKING,
MAYBE HE IS SERIOUS.
MAYBE HE REALLY IS GOING
TO START LOOKING AT HOW
TO HELP POOR PEOPLE
AND FIX THE INNER CITIES.
HE IS A BUILDER.
THE GUY WANTS TO FIX STUFF.
THEN HE SAID IT IN HIS STATE
OF THE UNION LAST YEAR.
AND SO SINCE THAT TIME,
MY ORGANIZATION, CURE
AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH HIS ADMINISTRATION
TO TRY TO SHAPE NEW IDEAS
SO THAT WE CAN HELP FIX
WHAT'S BROKEN DOWN IN
OUR MOST VULNERABLE ZIP CODES.
HE IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT
GETTING THIS DONE AND
WE MIGHT EVEN SEE
SOME CHANGES THIS YEAR.
Betty: DO YOU THINK MANY OF
THE PEOPLE IN POVERTY THINK
THEY CAN'T BE FIXED SO THEY
KIND OF SETTLE INTO THAT LIFE?
Star: WE KNOW IT FOR A FACT.
IT IS INTERESTING.
IT'S NOT ONLY THAT
THEY KNOW IT, THEY'VE BEEN
TOLD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHO IS
FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY ASKED ME,
"YOU KNOW WHAT I DON'T
UNDERSTAND ABOUT
YOUR BOOK, STAR?"
HE SAID, "WHY DO THEY TELL
THEIR CHILDREN THEY'RE POOR?"
HE SAID, "THAT'S SO CRUEL.
WHO WOULD TELL THEIR CHILDREN
THEY'RE POOR?"
AND IT'S PERPETUATION TO
WHERE NOW I WENT INTO ALABAMA
RECENTLY AND SOME TEACHERS
CONFRONTED ME.
THEY'RE LIKE, "OH SO YOU RUN
A THINK TANK?"
I SAID, "YEAH, I RUN
A THINK TANK IN WASHINGTON."
"WELL, YOU NEED TO GO UP THERE
AND THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING NOW
FROM OUR 14-YEAR OLDS.
THEY'RE SAYING, 'MAMA SAID
DON'T BRING HOME
A B ON YOUR TEST.
MAMA SAID BRING HOME A BABY.
AND MAMA SAID IF YOU DON'T
BRING HOME A BABY,
YOU'RE GOING ON TO YOUR UNCLE
BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING
TO HAVE A BABY.'"
YES, IT IS ENTRENCHED.
WE'VE GOT A CANCER AND
NOW IT'S STOLEN ALL DIGNITY
FROM THE PEOPLE AND
SO THEY REALLY DON'T BELIEVE
THAT THEY HAVE A TALENT,
THAT GOD WAS A DISTRIBUTOR
OF TALENTS AND THAT'S
ANOTHER REASON WE'VE GOT
TO GET THE GOVERNMENT
OUT OF DOING CHARITY WORK.
THAT'S WHY YOU WANT TO WORK
WITH THE ESTABLISHED CHARITIES
IN THE COMMUNITIES.
EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THEM.
SOMEBODY IS WORKING
WITH THE HOMELESS FROM
A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE.
SOMEONE IS WORKING WITH
THE ORPHAN, IN THE FOSTER,
WITH THE -- EVERY SINGLE PLACE
WE SEE CHALLENGES.
SO WHAT WE NEED ARE CHURCHES
TO ADOPT UP THOSE PLACES.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO BRING
THEIR TITHES INTO
THE STOREHOUSE AND WE NEED
CHARITY TAX CREDITS.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT
HAVE THE SYSTEM TO WHERE
WE SEND ALL THAT MONEY
TO WASHINGTON AND THEN
WASHINGTON TRICKLES IT
BACK TO THE PEOPLE.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE
DOLLAR TO DOLLAR TO
THE CHARITY OF THEIR CHOICE.
James: AND OVERSIGHT --
COMPASSIONATE OVERSIGHT.
Star: WELL, THE CHARITY ITSELF
HAS TO HAVE THE OVERSIGHT.
LET'S JUST TAKE ONE EXAMPLE,
THE HOMELESS SHELTERS,
UNION MISSIONS, THESE FOLKS,
THEY'RE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.
THEY BRING THEIR TITHE,
THEIR TALENT, THEIR TREASURES,
THEY'RE FREE PEOPLE,
THEY'RE WORKING WITH
FREE PEOPLE, BUT
THEIR ATTITUDE ABOUT THE POOR
IS THAT THEY'RE UNIQUELY MADE
IN THE EYES OF GOD.
THEY LOOK AT THEM
AS HUMAN BEINGS.
THEIR HUMANITY IS THERE.
SO WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO
TO THEM IS GET THEM WELL.
THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO.
NOT LIKE THE GOVERNMENT
WHERE THEY JUST WANT THEM
COMFORTABLE IN THEIR STATE
OF AFFAIRS BUT
TO HAVE THEM CHANGE.
SO WHEN WE KNOW THAT
THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND
WE HELP THEM, THEY CAN HELP
MORE PEOPLE.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY
TO TAKE IT ON YOUR OWN
AND JUST CHIP THEM A DOLLAR
BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT
OR IF YOU GIVE A QUARTER
ON THE CORNER THEY'RE GOING
TO STAY IN THAT STATE
OF AFFAIR AND THEY'RE GOING TO
DIE IN THAT STATE OF AFFAIR.
YOU'RE JUST POSTPONING
THE INEVITABLE.
BUT IF YOU WORK WITH,
EVEN THE PREGNANCY CARE
CENTERS, THESE FOLKS ARE
DOING REALLY, REALLY
INCREDIBLE WORK
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE
ARE NOT BENEVOLENT
AND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
COMPASSION, THEY JUST
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN IN THIS WAR
ON POVERTY FOR 50 YEARS.
SO ACTUALLY UNCLE SAM HAS
SAID DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT,
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
NOW EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT,
YOU DIDN'T DO A REALLY
GOOD JOB BUT WE DON'T KNOW
HOW TO GET OURSELVES
OUT OF THIS ONE.
James: THEY COMPOUND
THE PROBLEM AND
THEY MULTIPLY THE ISSUES.
IT'S JUST YOU AND I BOTH HAD
A VERY DIFFICULT BACKGROUND
BUT WE HAD A TRANSFORMATION
IN OUR HEART AND WE DIDN'T
BELIEVE THE LIES
AND WE WENT TO WORK.
WE'RE TRYING TO GO HELP
OTHER PEOPLE DO IT.
ONE OF THE REASONS,
I'M TELLING YOU, NOW THIS
IS REALLY THE TRUTH.
I CAN SHOW PEOPLE A REAL
SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE
IN AMERICA, AS SERIOUS
AS YOU'LL SEE OVERSEAS BUT
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GIVE.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?
I ALREADY GAVE.
I GAVE -- THIS IS THEIR MIND.
THEY GAVE BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
Star: BUT THERE'S SOMETHING
ELSE GOING ON TOO.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY IS IT THAT WE ALLOW
SUCH LARGE PERCENTAGES
OF PEOPLE TO NOT CONTRIBUTE?
WHEN YOU START THINKING
ABOUT OUR BROKEN COMMUNITIES,
THEIR POLITICIANS AND THEIR
LEADERS KEEP TELLING THEM,
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
THIS COUNTRY
IS STACKED AGAINST YOU."
THEY'RE AGAINST ALL
THREE OF THE FOUNDING C'S.
THEY'RE AGAINST CHRISTIANITY,
THEY'RE AGAINST CAPITALISM,
AND THEY'RE AGAINST
OUR CONSTITUTION.
SO THEY KEEP PUSHING
TO THESE PEOPLE THAT
NO, DON'T YOU DARE TRY.
DON'T YOU DARE!
THAT'S THE REASON THEN OTHER
AMERICANS HAVE ATTITUDES
BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE,
IF I GET UP AND GO TO WORK
ON MONDAY MORNING,
WHY AREN'T YOU GETTING UP
AND GOING TO WORK ON
MONDAY MORNING?
WE JUST HAD SOME MAJOR CHANGES
IN WASHINGTON WITH MEDICAID
FOR INSTANCE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS
DECIDED TO LAX THE RULES
A LITTLE BIT, GIVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY
FOR THE STATES TO PUT WORK
REQUIREMENTS IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BE ON MEDICAID.
THE ACTIVISTS ARE THERE
HAVING FITS.
THE LEFT IS COMING APART
AND ALL WE'RE SAYING IS
WHY CAN'T THEY GO TO WORK?
WELL, THEY HAVE
THREE CHILDREN!
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THEM
TO DO?
OPEN A DAYCARE?
THEY ALREADY HAVE
THREE CHILDREN.
LET'S TEACH THEM HOW
TO OPEN A DAYCARE.
THEY'VE GOT THREE,
BRING THEM THREE MORE.
SO YEAH, THAT'S WHY PEOPLE
DON'T HELP BECAUSE
IN OUR COUNTRY, THERE REALLY
AREN'T ANY EXCUSES.
WHEN YOU GO AND DO
YOUR WORK ABROAD,
THEY HAVE NOTHING.
HERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT WE'VE DONE THOUGH
IS WE'VE ALLOWED GOVERNMENT
TO GO PLACES
THEY SHOULDN'T GO.
WE TRAPPED CERTAIN KIDS
IN FAILING GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
TO WHERE ALL THEY HEAR IS
SECULAR HUMANISM
AND BIG GOVERNMENT.
WE WON'T ALLOW THEM OUT.
39 STATES ACTUALLY HAVE
AMENDED THEIR CONSTITUTIONS
THAT THE MONEY CAN'T FOLLOW
THE CHILDREN TO THE SCHOOLS
THEIR PARENTS WANT.
WHEN POOR PEOPLE GET
AN EDUCATIONAL VOUCHER,
THEY ACTUALLY GO
TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS,
THEY GO TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR LIVES
ARE IN TROUBLE AND THEY KNOW
THAT THEIR CHILDREN
NEED THAT DISCIPLINE.
James: THEY WANT
SCHOOL CHOICE.
Star: THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
SAME THING WITH
OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS.
THE HUD PROGRAMS, WE TRAP THEM
IN GHETTOS THAT ARE OVERRUN
WITH CRIME.
LET THEM GO LIVE ANYWHERE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM,
THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T GO INTO
THE GROCERY STORE BUSINESS
-- NOT THAT THEY PROBABLY
DIDN'T TRY.
BUT IN HOUSING THEY WENT
INTO THAT BUSINESS --
NO, SERIOUSLY, EDUCATION,
THEY WENT INTO THAT BUSINESS.
IT'S MAD WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING
TO CHANGE THINGS IN D.C.
NOW, YOU SAY WHY AM
I HAPPY ABOUT IT?
IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW
ADMINISTRATION THAT SEEMS
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAY
WE'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS
FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS
HAS NOT WORKED, IN PARTICULAR
FOR THE WEAKEST LINK.
YOU KNOW WHEN I THINK ABOUT
THAT LITTLE LOST SHEEP,
WHEN JESUS WENT --
REMEMBER WHEN HE WENT TO FIND
THE LITTLE LOST SHEEP?
I WOULD THINK ABOUT, OKAY,
WHAT WERE THE OTHER 99 DOING
WHILE HE WAS RUNNING AROUND
LOOKING FOR THE ONE?
AND I HEARD ONE PASTOR SAY,
"YOU KNOW WHERE HE WENT
TO LOOK FIRST?
THE LAST TIME HE KNEW
HE HAD 100!"
I'M LIKE THAT'S A GOOD IDEA,
KIND OF LIKE YOUR KEYS.
YOU GO, "WHEN WAS
THE LAST TIME I HAD THEM?"
BUT THE 99, WHAT WERE
THEY DOING?
AND I STARTED THINKING,
YOU KNOW, THEY PROBABLY WERE
TALKING TO EACH OTHER ABOUT
HOW SECURE THEY FELT THAT
IF THEY GOT LOST HE WOULD
GO LOOK FOR THEM.
SO IT BUILT THAT DIGNITY
AND THAT WORTH IN THOSE
OTHER LITTLE SHEEP TO FOLLOW
THE MASTER AND FOLLOW
THE SHEPHERD WHEN HE RETURNED.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS
A REAL DISSERVICE TO
OUR POOR AND TO THOSE THAT ARE
NOW GENERATIONALLY TRAPPED
IN OUR IMPOVERISHED ZIP CODES
BUT WE'RE CHANGING THINGS.
AND MY ORGANIZATION IS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF HELPING
THOSE THINGS GET CHANGED.
[Applause]
Betty: WE'VE KEPT THEM
HELPLESS AND HOPELESS
INSTEAD OF OFFERING
NEW HOPE AND A WAY OUT.
Star: THAT'S VERY WELL SAID.
James: TRAPPED THEM
IN BONDAGE, IN ANOTHER FORM
OF SLAVERY AND PRISON.
WELL, WHAT WE'VE DONE
IS NOT WORKING AND YOU NAME
THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
WAS IT $24 TRILLION YOU SAID?
Star: IN THE WAR -- WHOLE WAR.
BUT IT IS $900 BILLION A YEAR.
JUST THE FEDERAL A YEAR!
IT'S A QUARTER OF THE BUDGET.
A QUARTER!
WE HAVE A $4 TRILLION
ECONOMY IN WASHINGTON,
THE GOVERNMENT -- A QUARTER!
IT IS LIKE THE WHEEL
IN THE CAR JUST KEEPS TURNING
AND TURNING AND WE'RE NOT
GETTING OUT OF THIS
UNTIL WE SHED THAT TIRE.
James: WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET OUT OF IT UNTIL
WE RETURN TO SOUND THINKING
AND PRINCIPLES.
IT WILL BE BUILT ON LOVE
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO BRING THESE FREE SPENDERS
AND THESE PEOPLE
THAT MANIPULATE AND
KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
GET THEM OUT OF OFFICE.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT
WE JUST NEED TO CHANGE
THINGS IN WASHINGTON
BY CHANGING THE THINKING
AND THE PEOPLE AND THOSE
WHO ARE THINKING WRONG
AND GET PEOPLE IN
WHO WILL THINK RIGHT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
BY THE WAY, A LOT
OF CHRISTIANS WHO LOVE
THE LORD, THEY DON'T
THINK WELL.
THEY DON'T HAVE WISDOM.
THEY DON'T LEAD WELL
AND THEY JOIN
THE COLLECTIVIST MENTALITY,
THE SECULAR PROGRESSIVE
SOCIALIST MENTALITY
WHICH HAS PROVED TO FAIL
THROUGHOUT HISTORY
AND YET WE SEEM COMMITTED
TO CONTINUING THE PROCESS
OF FAILURE.
IT CREATES MORE MISERY
PER SQUARE INCH THAN
ANY WAY YOU CAN DO IT.
STAR, WE'RE GOING TO WORK
TOGETHER, YOU AND I IN EVERY
WAY WE CAN.
WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO PRAY.
DO YOU THINK IT IS POSSIBLE,
DO YOU THINK THE STAGE
IS SET NOW FOR US TO ACTUALLY
MAKE SERIOUS CORRECTION?
Star: WELL, I ABSOLUTELY DO.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE PRESIDENT
IS TAKING ON WELFARE REFORM
AND A FEW INITIATIVES
AND THEN SO IS CONGRESS.
SPEAKER PAUL RYAN CAME
TO WASHINGTON JUST FOR
THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY.
GOD CALLED HIM YEARS
AND YEARS AGO.
James: TO DEAL CORRECTLY
WITH WELFARE.
Star: GET IT OUT OF WASHINGTON
AND GET IT BACK TO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES WHERE IT BELONGS.
LET PEOPLE ENGAGE IN THE LIVES
OF THE POOR AGAIN.
SO THERE IS
A COMMITMENT THERE.
NOW IT IS JUST A MATTER
OF DOING IT.
LET'S FACE IT, NOW WE HAVE
-- IT'S MASSIVE SO WE DIDN'T
GET HERE YESTERDAY.
WE WON'T GET OUT TOMORROW
BUT THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY
TO TRY TO GET IT DONE.
James: DO YOU BEAR WITNESS
AND SAY THANKS FOR WHAT
STAR IS SAYING AND BELIEVING?
THAT IF WE'LL ADJUST
OUR THINKING AND OUR HEARTS
IT WILL CORRECT OUR DIRECTION.
Star: YOU CHANGE THE LAWS,
YOU'VE CHANGED LIVES.
James: THAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, GOD BLESS YOU.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE A BOOK.
WHAT IS YOUR WEBSITE IF
PEOPLE WANTED TO SUPPORT YOU
IN WHATEVER GOD
PUTS BEFORE YOU?
Star: MY WEBSITE IS
URBANCURE.ORG.
JUST URBANCURE.ORG
OR THEY CAN JUST
LOOK UP STAR PARKER
AND THEY'LL FIND ME.
I'VE WRITTEN A FEW BOOKS
BUT I'VE GOT A NEW ONE
COMING OUT LATER THIS YEAR.
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE ME BACK?
James: I WILL!
Star: OH GOODIE!
[Laughing]
James: HEY, YOU'VE ALREADY
GOT THE INVITATION NOW!
Star: I JUST INVITED MYSELF!
James: YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE
TO WAIT FOR THE PUBLISHER.
IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD
YOU GOT THE INVITE.
I WANT TO HELP YOU DO
WHAT GOD PUTS ON YOUR HEART.
I BELIEVE OUR VIEWERS DO.
Star: WE ARE URBAN CURE.ORG.
WE ARE A 501C3, NON-PROFIT.
James: THAT MEANS YOU CAN
HELP HER AND GET TAX CREDIT
UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT LOSES
THEIR EVERLOVING MIND
AND MAKES THINGS WORSE.
THEY DON'T HAVE FAR TO GO.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE SWINGING
BACK RIGHT.
STAR, WE HELP PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW THIS.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING THAT WILL
TOUCH YOUR HEART.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK IN HERE.
I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO
A LITTLE GIRL TALKING TO
A VERY GIFTED WONDERFUL
CHRISTIAN WOMAN, SHEILA WALSH.
I WANT YOU TO LISTEN CLOSE.
LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART.
Sheila: SOME THINGS
YOU CAN'T UNSEE
OR STORIES
YOU CAN'T UNHEAR,
AND HONESTLY, YOU WOULD
NOT WANT TO.
I'VE SEEN THINGS
ON THIS TRIP
THAT ARE WORSE THAN
ANYTHING I COULD IMAGINE.
I JUST SPENT SOME TIME
WITH A LITTLE GIRL
WHO IS NOW 11 AND SHE'S BEEN
FORCED TO HAVE SEX WITH MEN,
WITH STRANGERS,
SOMETIMES FOUR A NIGHT
SINCE SHE WAS
NINE YEARS OLD.
Sheila:
I'M SO, SO SORRY!
DO YOU HAVE TO GO
WITH MEN EVERY NIGHT?
Sheila: THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
THE LORD IS CLOSE
TO THE BROKENHEARTED
AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE
CRUSHED IN SPIRIT.
I'VE SEEN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
TO BE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT
WHEN YOU'RE 11 YEARS OLD.
SO THIS IS OUR MOMENT
TO BE CHRIST IN THE FLESH
TO THOSE WHO
ARE BROKEN.
James: BETTY, SHEILA
AND I WATCHED THAT YESTERDAY
AND I SAID TO SHEILA,
"IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
TO IMAGINE SEEING SOMETHING
LIKE THAT AND THEN TO THINK
THAT MEN CAN BE SO DEPRAVED
AND SO DEFEATED THAT
THEY COULD EXPLOIT
A LITTLE INNOCENT CHILD
LIKE THAT FOR SOME KIND OF
ATTEMPT AT GRATIFICATION.
DEAR GOD, IT IS SUCH
A SICKNESS.
LORD, I JUST PRAY FOR THE ONES
THAT ARE HELD BY THAT GRIP
AND THAT WOULD HURT
A LITTLE INNOCENT CHILD.
AND THEN GOD IN HEAVEN,
WE JUST PRAY FOR FREEDOM;
IN JESUS' NAME.
BETTY, WE CAN'T APART FROM GOD
SET THOSE MEN FREE.
THEY JUST CAN BE SET FREE
BUT WE CAN GET THAT
LITTLE GIRL OUT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD
RESCUE CENTERS --
WE, YOU, ALL OF US TOGETHER.
AND RIGHT NOW WE CAN RESCUE
2500 THAT WE'RE TARGETING
AND WE'VE HAD A GROUP
OF FRIENDS SAY, "WE'LL MATCH
WHATEVER IS GIVEN."
WE CAN ACTUALLY REACH 5,000.
I'M JUST PRAYING THAT
EVERYONE WILL HELP BECAUSE
IT TAKES $128
TO RESCUE A CHILD.
NOW THAT WILL BE DOUBLED
IF YOU CAN DO THAT --
SOMEBODY WILL MATCH IT
AND WE RESCUE TWO.
I'M JUST PRAYING THAT PEOPLE
LOOKING AT THAT LITTLE GIRL
WOULD SAY, "LET ME HELP
SOMEONE LIKE THAT BECAUSE
OUR VIEWERS CAN."
Betty: ABSOLUTELY!
AND YOU JUST LISTENED
TO PURE EVIL THAT'S HAPPENING
TO THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW,
WE SHOULD NOT EVEN HESITATE.
IT SHOULD JUST BE JUMPING OUT
OF OUR HEARTS SAYING,
"WE WANT TO HELP.
WE WANT TO HELP."
JAMES AND I WANT TO HELP.
I FEEL LIKE YOU DO TOO.
LET'S GET THE CHILDREN OUT
OF THE GRASP OF THIS EVIL.
LET'S GIVE THEM
A SAFE HAVEN TO GO TO.
A SAFE PLACE WHERE SOMEONE
IS GOING TO SHOW THEM LOVE
-- PURE LOVE, THE PURE LOVE
OF JESUS CHRIST.
SO PLEASE JOIN WITH US
AND LET'S HELP THESE
PRECIOUS LITTLE ONES.
James: YOU SAID WE WANT
TO HELP, WE'RE GOING TO HELP.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
WE REALLY COMMITTED
OURSELVES TO GOD THAT LORD,
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN AT EVERY POINT AND
WOULD YOU PLEASE ENABLE US?
AND YOU KNOW AS WE'VE
GOTTEN OLDER, WE'VE RETIRED
A LOT OF OUR DEBTS AND THINGS,
WE NEVER HAD MANY.
WE ALWAYS LIVED SO FAR BELOW
OUR INCOME THAT WE JUST
DIDN'T GET OURSELVES
IN TROUBLE.
IT ENABLED US TO GIVE.
WE SAY, "LORD, WE WANT
TO DO THAT."
LET ME JUST SAY THIS,
$1280, WE CAN GET IT.
WE CAN SEE 10 BUT
NOW IT IS 20.
IN OTHER WORDS,
THAT AMOUNT DOUBLES;
TO REACH THEM, TO RESCUE THEM,
AND TO RESTORE THEM
AVERAGES $128 A YEAR.
IT WILL BE DOUBLED,
NOW IT IS TWO CHILDREN.
SOME OF YOU SAY I COULDN'T
EVEN DO THAT BUT $64
AND THAT WILL NOW BE DOUBLED
AND YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER RESCUE.
SO AT SOME LEVEL YOU CAN HELP.
WE'VE GOT SOME GIFTS
THAT WILL BLESS YOU.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WHEN YOU MAKE THAT GIFT,
WHEN YOU GO ONLINE OR
YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER AND
YOU TAKE YOUR BANKCARD
AND SAY, "I'M GOING TO RESCUE
A CHILD," IT IS GOING
TO BE DOUBLED.
WHATEVER YOU GIVE,
IT'S DOUBLED.
YOU'RE GOING TO SET
SOMEONE TOTALLY FREE
AND ENABLE THE MISSION
AND RELIEF WORKERS TO BE
THE ONE WHO OFFERS THE HOPE
AND THE HEALING
THAT WILL NOT FAIL.
YOU'RE PROVIDING IT.
PLEASE, RIGHT NOW, WOULD YOU
GIVE THIS GREAT GIFT?
GO ONLINE, DIAL THE NUMBER,
USE THAT BANKCARD
LIKE A CHECK.
IF YOU WRITE A CHECK,
MAKE IT TO LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR DOING IT.
WE'VE GOT SOME GIFTS
TO SEND YOU THAT ARE GOING
TO BLESS YOU JUST TO SAY
THANK YOU AND YOU'RE GIVING
THE GREATEST GIFT,
A GIFT OF LOVE
AND A GIFT OF LIFE.
Announcer: BEHIND THE BRIGHT
LIGHTS THERE IS A DARKNESS
WHERE A WORLD OF VIOLENCE
AND SEXUAL ABUSE RUNS RAMPANT
SCARRING THE SOULS OF
MILLIONS OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
WITH THEIR BODIES BROKEN
AND HOPES CRUSHED,
THESE CHILDREN ARE TRAPPED
IN A NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE.
WITH YOUR HELP, MISSION:
RESCUE LIFE CAN SHINE
THE LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE
IN THIS DARK WORLD TO REACH,
RESCUE AND RESTORE CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE
TO THE BEAUTY GOD DESIGNED
FOR THEM TO ENJOY.
WITH A GENEROUS OPPORTUNITY
OF A $320,000 MATCHING GIFT,
YOUR GIFT OF $128
TO HELP RESCUE A CHILD
WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP TWO CHILDREN.
YOUR $64 GIFT WILL BE MATCHED
TO HELP RESCUE ONE CHILD
FROM THE HORRORS
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND A $32 RESCUE GIFT
WILL BE DOUBLED TO $64!
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT TODAY,
WE WILL SEND YOU THE NAMES
OF GOD PRAYER JOURNAL.
FROM ADONAI TO YAHWEH,
THIS JOURNAL IS FILLED
WITH BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS
TO HELP YOU REFLECT
ON 31 DIFFERENT NAMES OF GOD
FOUND THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $128 OR MORE,
YOU'LL RECEIVE
THE NAMES OF GOD BIBLE.
THIS SPECIAL EDITION, NIV,
LARGE PRINT BIBLE IS ENGRAVED
WITH THE MANY NAMES OF GOD;
A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER
THAT THE GOD WE SERVE
IS INFINITELY GOOD.
FINALLY, PLEASE CONSIDER
A GIFT OF $1,280
WHICH WILL NOW HELP
RESCUE 20 CHILDREN
AND YOU MAY REQUEST THE
BEAUTIFUL "BRIDGE OF FAITH"
FRAMED CANVAS PRINT
BY THOMAS KINKADE.
PLEASE CALL, WRITE
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE!
Lisa: THESE CHILDREN
ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
THEY ARE FROM FAMILIES
THAT LOVE THEM.
NOW THEY'RE POOR -- AND JUST
BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR
IT PUTS THEM AT TERRIBLE RISK
FOR BEING TAKEN,
FOR BEING KIDNAPPED,
FOR BEING TRAFFICKED,
AND FORCED INTO LABOR
OR SEX TRAFFICKING.
IF THEY GET TAKEN,
NOBODY IS GOING TO KNOW
WHERE TO FIND THEM
AND PEOPLE CAN'T GO AFTER THEM
AND LOOK FOR THEM.
WE DON'T WANT
TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
FRIENDS FOR LIFE IS BUILDING
A NETWORK WITH PARTNERS
AROUND THE WORLD SO THAT CHILDREN IN THESE KINDS
OF CONDITIONS
DON'T GET TRAFFICKED,
DON'T GET TAKEN AWAY
FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
WON'T YOU PARTNER WITH US?
I WANT YOU TO PRAY
AND ASK GOD WHAT
HE WOULD HAVE YOU DO.
I WANT YOU TO PICK UP
YOUR PHONE.
I WANT YOU TO GO ONLINE
AND I WANT YOU TO BE A PART
OF THE FRIENDS FOR LIFE
TO PARTNER FOR RESCUE.
James: WOULD YOU JOIN ME HERE
AND THE AUDIENCE AND BETTY
SAYING THANKS TO STAR PARKER?
BLESS YOU, STAR.
WE LOVE YOU.
WE'RE WITH YOU 100%!
THANK ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
♪
♪
♪
>> IT WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE
WHEN I FELT GOD'S GRACE
MOST PROFOUNDLY.
Announcer: FIND OUT
WHAT SLOWED DOWN
THE FASTEST AMERICAN WOMAN
IN HISTORY --
SANYA RICHARDS-ROSS.
NEXT WEEK!
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF
LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.